'Warning shots' fired at Aleppo airport
2012-12-21 18:30
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Syria
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Beirut - Syrian rebels fired warning shots at an airliner
preparing to take off from Aleppo airport in the first direct attack on a
civilian flight since the uprising in Syria began 21 months ago, a rebel
commander said on Friday.
The commander, who gave his name only as Khaldoun, told
Reuters via Skype that snipers from his brigade had hit the wheels of Syrian
Airways flight RB201 on Thursday.
"Those were warning shots," he said, adding
that the plane had been unable to take off. "We wanted to send a message
to the regime that all their planes - military and civilian - are within our
reach."
There were no immediate reports of the incident on Syrian
state media.
Rebels accuse the government of using civilian aircraft
to transport weapons and Iranian fighters they say are helping President Bashar
Assad's forces.
Insurgents have cut off many of the road links to Aleppo,
Syria's biggest city.
Fighting around Damascus has made the road to the
capital's international airport unsafe for traffic. Foreign airlines have
stopped flying there. According to flight schedules, the Cairo-bound RB201
usually flies from Damascus rather than Aleppo.
"What happened with Damascus airport will happen to
Aleppo, even if the price is higher," Khaldoun said in reference to
battles convulsing Aleppo since July.
Another rebel urged civilians not to use Aleppo airport
or Syrian Air flights "as they will be targets from now on".
